Study Guide for Exam 1
Chapter 1 - The Scale of the Cosmos
Be able to define:
North Star
Polaris
Powers of 10
Scienticic Notation
Solar System
Planet
Days of the week
Star
Balances within a star
Light Year
Astronomical Unit
Milky Way
Milky Way Galaxy
Andromeda Galaxy
Galaxy
Quasar
Sizes and Distances in the Universe
age of the solar system
age of the universe
Be able to:
- describe the concept of the celestial sphere and the conventions of angular
measurement that enable us to locate objects in the sky.
- explain how angular measurement can be used when distance is NOT known.
- explain why astrology is not a science.
- work your way from the Earth to Quasars relating sizes and distances in the universe
Chapter 2 - Patterns & Cycles
Be able to define:
celestial sphere
Hipparchus
apparent magnitude
rotation
revolution
ecliptic
zodiac
tilt of the Earth
seasons
spring equinox
summer solstice
autumn equinox
winter solstice
astrology
causes of eclipses
total solar eclipse
partial solar eclipse
annular solar eclipse
lunar eclipse
terminator
umbra
penumbra
line of nodes
saros cycle
precession
node
Be able to:
- distinguish between stars of various apparent brightness using the Apparent Magnitude Scale.
- account for the apparent motions of the Sun, Moon, and stars in terms of the actual motions of Earth and the Moon.
- show how the relative motions of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon lead to eclipses.
- explain the causes of the seasons.
- explain all the circumstances for a lunar eclipse
- explain all the circumstances for a solar eclipse
- explain all the circumstances for an annular eclipse
- explain the difference you would see when in an umbral shadow as compared to a penumbral shadow for a lunar eclipse
- explain the significance of the rotation and revolution of the Earth
Be able to list:
- the date marking the first day of each season
- the Sun's location at noon on each of those dates
- the phases of the Moon
Chapter 3 - Discovering the layout of the Solar System
Be able to define:
Aristotle
parallax
Ptolemy
Ptolemaic Theory = Geocentric Theory
retrograde motion
Copernicus
Tycho Brahe
Kepler
ellipses
Kepler’s First Law
Kepler’s Second Law
Kepler’s Third Law
astronomical unit
Galileo
Newton
Newton’s law of universal gravitation
Newton’s First Law
Newton’s Second Law
Newtons Third Law
names of the planets in order
solar system
Be able to:
- explain how the observed motions of the planets led to our modern explanations of planetary motions.
- explain view of a Sun-centered solar system.
- outline the major contributions of Galileo and Kepler to the development of our understanding of the solar system.
- state Kepler’s First Law and explain an example of its use in the solar
system
- state Kepler’s Second Law and explain an example of its use in the solar
system
- state Kepler’s Third Law and explain an example of its use in the solar
system
- state Newton's First Law of Motion and explain an example of its use
- state Newton's Second Law of Motion and explain an example of its use
- state Newton's Third Law of Motion and explain an example of its use
- state Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation and explain an example of its
use
- explain how the latter permits us to measure the masses of astronomical bodies
- explain the causes of tides, be able to predict the timing of times, and how the Moon's phases changes tides
Be able to list:
- the names of the planets in order from the Sun.
Chapter 4 - Telescopes and Light
Be able to define:
wavelength
visible light
ultraviolet radiation
infrared radiation
electromagnetic radiation
speed of light
photon
spectrum
magnification
resolution
light-gathering power
refractor
reflector
seeing
objective
aperture
CCD
pixel
Be able to:
- discuss the nature of electromagnetic radiation, and tell how that radiation transfers energy and information through interstellar space
- explain why very large telescopes are needed for most astronomical studies
- specify the advantages of reflecting telescopes for astronomical use
- describe how Earth's atmosphere affects astronomical observations
- discuss some of the current efforts to improve ground-based astronomy
- discuss the advantages and disadvantages of radio astronomy
- explain why it is important to make astronomical observations in many different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum
Be able to list:
- list the names of the types of Electromagnetic radiation in order of wavelength
- the purpose of the mirror or lens
- the purpose of the eyepiece